The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-02-03
AN OLIVE GROVE.
How Olive Raising Has Be-
come q California In dustry.

come q California Industry.
The Fruit Of the Mediterranean Now One
Of Americas Products
From ancient writings, including the
Holy Scriptures, it can be ascertained
that the olive is one of the oldest known
fruits. The Mount Of Olives, near
Jerusalem, is famous in history. Long
before butter was known olive oil was
used in the preparation of food. Large
quantities OF the oil and fruit have from
time to time been imported here from
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,
whence most of tho product has been
obtained. The climate of California, not
being unlike that of the Mediterranean,
was considered suitable for the growth
of the olive, and an experiment was
made which has proved successful. The
tree itself is pretty and ornamental. In
spring time it is covered with pro-
fusion Of white flowers, and in winter
has an evergreen foliage. When ready
for the harvest it is so prolific that the
branches bend under the weight of the
fruit. Olive wood is also beautiful,
and was chosen as parts of the orna-
mentation of the spacious and magni-
ficent Solomon's temple. The oil is
considered by many as something
sacred. As such it is used in consecra
tions and coronations. The ancients
used the sprays of olive leaves to crown
their great men, as it was believed to be
an emblem OF purity and peace. 1t
was considered the highest honor to be
crowned with olive leaves. In time of
war an olive branch borne in the hand
was token of peace, and is even now
spoken of as such.
The olive tree lives for a long time.
Some Of the trees on the Mount of Olives,
in Judea, are said to be fifteen feet in
diameter and over two thousand years
old, while that in the Vatican at Rome
has record of over a thousand years.
The olive is very hardy, and will endure
treatment which would kill other fruit
trees. If infected with insects the en-
tire head can Ec cut off and thrown
away, while the trunk will sprout
again with renewed vigor. In Southern
California it has prospered beyond
expectation. Being sensitive to excess
! i've heat or cold, its home is in the semi
| tropical belt represented by the Pacific
slope of the United States. 1t prospcrs
best near the sea, but can be cultivated
short distance inland. With ordinary
culture the olive in Europe will produce
over twenty gallons of oil per acre, be-
sides allowing large quantity of the
fruit to be used for eating. Although
yet in its infancy in this country, ex-
perts have said that the oil produced in
California is equal to any which has
been imported. Growers say the Cali.
fornian coast, from Point Conception tc
San Diego, is equal to that between
Geneva and Naples for the production
OF olives. The importations amount to E
large sum annually, and if the best olive
oil can, as it is claimed, be produced here
and in sufficient quantities, that product
will form an addition to thc,wealth of thu
United States. So far as the curing O
the fruit is concerned, experience is like.
ly to teach the proper treatment, as j
has with the raisin crop. The cutting
of two trees planted in 1876 yielded wei
in 1ss4-the ordinary time required TO
bearing being ten years. The crop o
these two trees was then seventy-fv,
gallons of fruit, which sold readily at
| 81 per gallon after being prepared TO
the table. When taken from the tree
the grower realized sevcnty-fvc cent
| peE BdiloHs uC sdillc tlCtS Wctc ioauci
down with fruit this season, and in Febru
ary will produce large crop that can b
readily sold at the place of growth a
eighty-five cents per gallon Th
trees are planted on hillside. abou
thirty-fivc or forty feet apart, to allo,
for expansion, as they will live and pro
duce for centuries. An acre of groun
will hold about 40 trees. The small
fruit is used for oil, while the large o.
queen olive is picked for eating.
Olive trees can be planted on rock
lands, where the vine would fail, an
the cost of planting the former is abou
one third of the latter. The crops ar
more easily gathered than grapes, Will
the outfit for preparing olive oil is abou
one-tenth of that necessary to produc
winc.- The insect pest can be tough
, much easier and with less cost than tn
. phylloxera or other enemies of the vine
, Being so prolific it becomes soont
, profitable to the grower, and each yes
after bearing the olive tree produces
} good crop until it reaches its full d.
velopment, when it pays much large
, revenue than vineyard, bearing a GRO
of from so to 40 gallons of fruit pt
tree. The olive tree is also not so muc
: affected as the vine by drought. Frol
) the experiments already made and the
, results it is believed that the America
/ olive grove will in few years becom
/ successful rivals to that of the Meditel
/ ranean. Il Cincinnati Commercial.
Z One as Tender as the Other.